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English 7
This course includes: the interpretation of literature and poetry using literary/poetic elements and figurative
language, grammar studies that emphasize understanding parts of speech, sentence construction rules, and their
incorporation into authentic writing, a strong focus on the form and content of academic writing (multiple
paragraph essays) written in response to literature, and various writing prompts. By year’s end, students will
become active, informed readers and skilled writers.

World Cultures 7
The seventh grade World Cultures course is based on the academic
learning standards put forth by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Seventh grade World Cultures curriculum introduces and details selected
cultures and regions of the world to students, while demonstrating how
those cultures interact with one another and their role in history. The
areas of study include: Africa, South Asia, East Asia and Southwest Asia.
Time frame of study for each unit begins with the founding of each
civilization or region and works through the 1500s A.D. Information for
each unit of study focuses on how each culture developed and its ties to
geography. Students engage these cultures and regions through a
multitude of teaching approaches including multi-sensory learning.

Reading 7
The purpose of this course is to advance literacy acquisition by developing strategic reading skills necessary to
access and process explicit and embedded information in academic texts. The span of genre used for instruction
includes short stories, essays, poetry and expository texts. Reading skills, specific strategies, literary analysis,
written responses, oral communication/debate, comparative analysis, and higher-level comprehension and
reasoning skills are incorporated through independent, small group, and whole-class experiences. A reading
technology program is utilized to provide a wide choice of independent reading opportunities and measure
individual student’s academic growth.

Language! C
Placement in this course is based on student need after extensive individualized testing with the reading
specialists. Students engage in a detailed study of the English language including development of skills in the
areas of phonics, phonemic awareness, spelling, vocabulary, reading comprehension, grammar, writing and
speaking. Students will be able to apply their skills to real-life and academic reading, listening, speaking and
writing tasks. This is an intervention reading course that could replace other language arts classes.

Wilson Reading 7
The Wilson Reading System is a comprehensive intensive (Tier III) program for students with significant reading
and writing challenges. The program provides direct, cumulative and systematic instruction to accelerate the
reading achievement of students with language based learning disabilities or dyslexia. The overriding goal of the
Wilson Reading System is to have students independently read grade level text with ease and understanding by
developing decoding and encoding skills, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension strategies. Placement in this
course is based on extensive testing with a reading or intervention specialist. The course is taught in small groups
and is in addition to the students’ core reading placement.

Step Up To Writing 7

Step Up to Writing is offered in 7th and 8th grade as a Tier III writing intervention course which replaces English
7. The Step Up to Writing program provides explicit and systematic instruction in all aspects of writing. The
program uses multisensory strategies to address all levels of writing ability with an emphasis on the structure of
single and multi-paragraph essays, the standard use of English and formal writing styles along with incorporating
academic vocabulary. The use of authentic text allows students to develop close reading skills for analysis and
reflection to support writing. Placement in this course is based on extensive data collection and testing by a
reading or intervention specialist.
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